Colleges in Charleston, West Virginia
5 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 5 colleges and universities in Charleston, West Virginia (3 Private for-profit, 1 Private nonprofit, 1 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 5 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $17,821 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 70.3%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 62% of applicants.
The median net price in Charleston runs about $7,759 higher than the West Virginia statewide median of $10,062.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Charleston, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$17,821
After aid
Median grad rate
70.3%
6-year
Median admission rate
62%
Median enrollment
65
Undergrad
All colleges in Charleston
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Charleston Charleston, WV | WV | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $22,107 | 45.6% | 62% | 2,259 | Complete | |
| Carver Career Center Charleston, WV | WV | Public, 2-year | $6,941 | 92.2% | Not available | 169 | Partial | |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Charleston Charleston, WV | WV | Private for-profit, <2-year | $17,821 | 68.0% | Not available | 65 | Partial | |
| Charleston School of Beauty Culture Charleston, WV | WV | Private for-profit, 2-year | $11,638 | 70.3% | Not available | 46 | Partial | |
| Mountain State School of Massage Charleston, WV | WV | Private for-profit, <2-year | $25,354 | 100.0% | Not available | 32 | Partial |
By institution type
Private for-profit (3)
Private for-profit colleges in Charleston operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Ross Medical Education Center-CharlestonNet price: $17,821Grad: 68.0%
- Charleston School of Beauty CultureNet price: $11,638Grad: 70.3%
- Mountain State School of MassageNet price: $25,354Grad: 100.0%
Private nonprofit (1)
Private nonprofit colleges in Charleston are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- University of CharlestonNet price: $22,107Grad: 45.6%
Public (1)
Public colleges in Charleston are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- Carver Career CenterNet price: $6,941Grad: 92.2%
Top programs in Charleston
Most-completed programs across Charleston colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business49.2% of degrees
- Health professions28.4% of degrees
- Personal services4.9% of degrees
- Homeland security & law enforcement3.5% of degrees
- Parks & recreation3.1% of degrees
- Biological sciences2.5% of degrees
- Social sciences1.4% of degrees
- Psychology1.3% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Charleston
Q.How many colleges are in Charleston, West Virginia?
There are 5 colleges and universities in Charleston, West Virginia that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 3 Private for-profit, 1 Private nonprofit, 1 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Charleston?
By undergraduate enrollment, University of Charleston is the largest institution in Charleston with roughly 2,259 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Charleston?
Based on average net price after aid, Carver Career Center is the most affordable institution in Charleston at $6,941 per year.
Q.Which Charleston college has the highest graduation rate?
Mountain State School of Massage reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Charleston institutions at 100.0%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Charleston?
The median net price across all 5 colleges in Charleston is $17,821 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Charleston?
Across Charleston colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Health professions, Personal services.
Q.Are there community colleges in Charleston?
Yes — Charleston includes 1 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in West Virginia
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Charleston that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.